Oakland Begins Crackdown on Speeding with Automated Cameras, Warning Period Underway
As part of a nationwide effort to curb speeding and save lives, the City of Oakland has launched its new automated speed safety camera program at 18 locations across the city. The pilot program is part of a seven-city initiative in California, including San Francisco, which also implemented similar camera programs.
During a 60-day warning period that began on Wednesday, drivers will receive only warnings if their vehicles are clocked going above 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Only after this period ends will citations be issued, with fines ranging from $50 to $500 depending on how much over the speed limit the driver was.
According to Mayor Barbara Lee, traffic safety is a top priority and too many families have lost loved ones due to traffic violence. "Traffic Safety is public safety," she said, adding that the cameras are not surveillance systems but rather designed to slow down drivers and save lives.
The vendor operating the program, Verra Mobility, emphasizes that the cameras are only for speeding enforcement purposes and not for collecting revenue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will operate the system, with law enforcement involved only if required by law.
Data collected from the cameras is confidential and won't be shared unless necessary. To mitigate costs, low-income residents and those receiving public assistance like SNAP benefits will receive reduced fines. The citations are non-moving violations that do not affect drivers' licenses or insurance rates.
According to Josh Rowan, Director of Oakland's Department of Transportation, "Speeding is a choice; if you don't want the camera to send you a ticket, drive the speed limit."
As part of a nationwide effort to curb speeding and save lives, the City of Oakland has launched its new automated speed safety camera program at 18 locations across the city. The pilot program is part of a seven-city initiative in California, including San Francisco, which also implemented similar camera programs.
During a 60-day warning period that began on Wednesday, drivers will receive only warnings if their vehicles are clocked going above 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Only after this period ends will citations be issued, with fines ranging from $50 to $500 depending on how much over the speed limit the driver was.
According to Mayor Barbara Lee, traffic safety is a top priority and too many families have lost loved ones due to traffic violence. "Traffic Safety is public safety," she said, adding that the cameras are not surveillance systems but rather designed to slow down drivers and save lives.
The vendor operating the program, Verra Mobility, emphasizes that the cameras are only for speeding enforcement purposes and not for collecting revenue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will operate the system, with law enforcement involved only if required by law.
Data collected from the cameras is confidential and won't be shared unless necessary. To mitigate costs, low-income residents and those receiving public assistance like SNAP benefits will receive reduced fines. The citations are non-moving violations that do not affect drivers' licenses or insurance rates.
According to Josh Rowan, Director of Oakland's Department of Transportation, "Speeding is a choice; if you don't want the camera to send you a ticket, drive the speed limit."
I'm so stoked about this! Finally, our city is taking concrete steps to combat speeding and make our streets safer for everyone. Those automated cameras are a game-changer – it's all about being proactive and preventive. I mean, think about it, 60 days of warnings? That's like a gentle nudge to get people on board with slowing down.
and I'm still thinking about it... I'm all for people getting fined for speeding, but those fines seem kinda steep? $50 to $500 is like asking someone to pay for their own speeding ticket on top of the actual fine 
. And what's up with the reduced fines for low-income residents? Shouldn't they be exempt from paying at all? 
and I gotta say, it's about time our cities start takin' traffic safety seriously! I mean, think about all the lives that can be saved with just one little adjustment in driving habits. It's not just about the cameras, it's about people losin' their loved ones on the roads because someone was too busy or too reckless to slow down. Oakland's doin' the right thing by implementin' these programs and I hope other cities take note 
. The fact that they're only issuin' warnings during the first 60 days shows they care about people's safety and want to give 'em a chance to adjust their habits before gettin' fined 
. Now, let's just hope everyone takes it seriously and drives safely! 
. I mean, I get it, speeding is a huge problem and lives are lost every year... but do we really need 18 locations in Oakland with cameras? It feels like they're just gonna start issuing citations left and right after that warning period ends. And $50 to $500 fines?! That's just gonna add to the already ridiculous cost of living in this city 
. I mean, who doesn't wanna save lives and all that jazz? But seriously, it's crazy how many people still don't follow the speed limit - 11 mph over and you get a warning? That's like getting a slap on the wrist 
. And yeah, I'm all for those low-income folks getting reduced fines 
. It's about time we start taking traffic safety more seriously. I just hope they keep an eye out for those speed demons who think they can outrun the law 
50 bucks for speeding from $500? its only $11 over and thats still like a whole day of groceries or something 
what if ur car broke down on the way to work and u had to pay that much for parking ticket lol? anyway seriously tho, mayor barbara lee is all about traffic safety and its awesome to see cities taking action 
gotta love seein' cities takin' action on traffic safety. I mean, 11 miles over the limit? That's just plain stupid 
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, unless there's a reason to share it.
its kinda cool that they're focusing on traffic safety & not just revenue collection 
the 60-day warning period is a good compromise btw i'm curious how ppl will react to seeing those cameras popping up all over town 
. It's about time we take traffic safety more seriously and it could really make a difference in saving lives. I've seen some crazy speeding on my daily commute and it's just not worth the risk. The fact that they're giving warnings during the 60-day period is a good call, so people can adjust their driving habits without feeling like they're being bullied. And reducing fines for low-income residents is a nice touch 
I'm all for it, but 11 mph over the limit still feels like a pretty aggressive speed. Like, what's the point of having cameras if people are gonna keep speeding? We need more than just warnings to make drivers change their habits 
guess what? it cost me $200 fine lol i know it sounds harsh but honestly i was really annoyed and just didn't want to deal with the traffic 
️ what's crazy is that the cameras are only for speeding enforcement and not revenue collection 
like, i get it, traffic safety is super important 
and btw, how accurate are these cameras, anyway? 
should be some kind of fail-safe in case they start giving out too many bogus tickets 
. It's all about creating more traffic jams, am I right? 
. I know some folks got killed by speeding, but is this really the best way to deal with it? It feels like just another bureaucratic hassle to add to our lives